How to change the Wi-Fi frequency on a laptop: 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz

On Linux

In the terminal, run the command:

iwconfig wlan0 | grep Frequency

If the answer contains 5.18 GHz or similar - you are on 5 GHz. If 2.412 GHz - accordingly, on 2.4 GHz.

How to manually change Wi-Fi frequency on Windows

There is no universal way to switch the range in Windows - it all depends on the driver of your Wi-Fi adapter. Let's consider options for popular manufacturers.

Method 1: Through “Network Settings” (universal)

This method works if the router broadcasts two networks with different names (for example, MyWiFi_2G And MyWiFi_5G):

1. Click Win + I → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi.
2. From the list of available networks, select the one that contains 5G or 5GHz in the title.
3. Connect to it by entering your password.

Method 2: Through adapter settings (Intel, Qualcomm, Broadcom)

If you have an adapter from Intel, Qualcomm or Broadcom, follow these steps:

1. Open Device Manager → find your Wi-Fi adapter → Properties → tab Additionally.
2. Look for parameters:
   • Preferred Band (y Intel) → select 5 GHz only or 2.4 GHz only.
   • Wireless Mode (y Qualcomm) → install 802.11a for 5 GHz or 802.11b/g for 2.4 GHz.
   • Roaming Aggressiveness → put 1. Lowest for stability at 5 GHz.

Update your Wi-Fi adapter driver|Check if the adapter supports 5GHz|Make sure the router broadcasts both networks|Disable VPN (it may block changes)|Reboot your laptop after changes-->

Method 3: Through the command line (for advanced)

If the driver interface does not allow you to change the frequency, try the command:

netsh wlan set autoconfig enabled=no interface="Wi-Fi"
netsh wlan connect name="Имя_сети_5G" ssid="Имя_сети_5G"

Replace Network_name_5G to the real name of your 5 GHz network. Once completed, the laptop will connect to the specified frequency.

⚠️ Attention: On some laptops (for example, HP Pavilion with adapter Realtek RTL8821CE) forced switching to 5 GHz may cause loss of connection until reboot. In this case, use only the manual network selection method.

How to change Wi-Fi frequency on macOS

On a MacBook the process is simpler than on Windows, but there are some nuances. Apple automatically selects the optimal range, but you can set it manually.

Method 1: Through "Network Settings"

1. Open System Settings → Network.
2. Select Wi-Fi → Additionally.
3. On the list Preferred networks remove all networks except the one that operates on the desired frequency (for example, leave only MyWiFi_5G).
4. Click OK and reconnect.

Method 2: Via Terminal (alternative method)

If macOS stubbornly connects to 2.4 GHz and you have selected a 5 GHz network, do:

sudo /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Versions/Current/Resources/airport -z
networksetup -setairportnetwork en0 "Имя_сети_5G" пароль

Replace en0 to your network interface (you can find it with the command networksetup -listallhardwareports).

defaults write /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.wifi.plist AutoJoinHotspot=false

How to change Wi-Fi frequency on Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch)

On Linux, band switching depends on the network manager used (NetworkManager, wpa_supplicant) and Wi-Fi drivers. Let's consider a universal method.

Method 1: Via nmcli (NetworkManager)

1. Find out the name of your Wi-Fi connection:

   nmcli connection show

2. Disable auto-connection:

   nmcli connection modify "Имя_соединения" wifi.band a

   (where a - this is 5 GHz, bg - 2.4 GHz).

3. Reconnect:

   nmcli connection up "Имя_соединения"

Method 2: Through the wpa_supplicant configuration file

Open the settings file:

sudo nano /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

Find your network block and add the line:

freq_list=5180 5200 5220 5240

Save (Ctrl+O) and restart the service:

sudo systemctl restart wpa_supplicant

⚠️ Attention: On some distributions (for example, Arch Linux with driver rtl8821ce) forced frequency indication may lead to adapter failure. In this case, remove the line freq_list and use the GUI nm-applet.

Why the laptop does not see the 5 GHz network: diagnostics and solutions

If your laptop does not detect networks 5 GHz, despite the fact that the router broadcasts them, the reasons may be as follows:

For diagnostics, use the commands:

• 🔍 Checking supported frequencies (Linux/Windows via PowerShell):

  iw list | grep -A 10 "Supported frequencies"

  or

  Get-NetAdapter | Select Name, InterfaceDescription | Where-Object {$_.InterfaceDescription -like "*Wi-Fi*"} | ForEach-Object { netsh wlan show drivers $_.Name }

• 📡 Checking available networks (Windows):

  netsh wlan show networks mode=bssid

  (look for networks with Radio Type: 802.11ac - this is 5 GHz).

Additional router settings for optimal performance

Sometimes the problem is not with the laptop, but with incorrect router settings. Here's what you can optimize:

• 🔄 Network separation: In the router settings (192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) enable the option Enable SSID Separation - it will divide 2.4 GHz And 5 GHz to two different networks with different names.
• 📶 Channel selection: For 5GHz, select channels 36–48 (less busy) or 149–165 (if supported DFS). Avoid automatic selection!
• 🔒 Encryption: Use WPA2-PSK AES - This is the fastest and safest option. WPA3 may not be supported by older devices.
• 🔌 Transmission power: If the laptop is far from the router, increase the power to 100% (optional Transmit Power).

Example of settings for a router ASUS RT-AX88U:

1. Go to the web interface at router.asus.com.
2. Go to Wireless network → Professionally.
3. Install:
   • Wireless mode: Auto (or N/AC/AX for 5 GHz).
   • Channel: 36 (width 80 MHz).
   • Enable radio module: Yes for both ranges.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about changing Wi-Fi frequency